Forensic Psychology (Certificate of Completion)

Discover how forensic psychology applies psychological science to law, and learn its five subspecialties—police and public safety, legal psychology, psychology of crime and delinquency, victimology, and correctional psychology.

Trace the history of forensic psychology from 19th-century eyewitness research to modern practice, highlighting milestones, board certification, guidelines, and the five subspecialties: police, legal, crime, victimology, and correctional psychology.

Explore the five forensic psychology subspecialties—police and public safety, legal psychology, psychology of crime and delinquency, victimology and victim services, and correctional psychology—and their education and licensure paths.

Explore police stress, suicide, and interventions within forensic psychology, framing mental health and safety considerations for law enforcement professionals.

Develop an understanding of hostage-taking dynamics and crisis negotiation within the framework of forensic psychology, applying strategies to resolve high-stakes incidents.

Explore forensic psychology through crime scene concepts and profiling, providing a foundation for understanding investigations in criminal contexts.

Explore the structure of courts and the scope of jurisdiction, and examine how forensic psychology informs courtroom processes and legal decision making.

Delve into competency to stand trial within forensic psychology, examining foundational concepts and assessment frameworks introduced in this introductory course.

Explore the insanity standards within forensic psychology, tracing how legal criteria assess mental state and responsibility.

Delve into child custody evaluations within forensic psychology, analyzing fragmented dialogue involving Susan, Tom, you, and they to highlight how communication shapes evaluation outcomes.

Explore involuntary civil commitment within forensic psychology, clarifying when and why individuals may be treated against their will under legal and ethical considerations.

Explore the concept of the criminal psychopath in forensic psychology, guided by brief, ambiguous cues about individuals.

Explore the major psychological perspectives: cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, and biological neuroscience, and their levels of analysis for behavior and mental processes, including nature and nurture.

Explore how genetic predispositions interact with environment to shape development, culture, norms, and abnormal behavior, emphasizing nature via nurture and cultural influences.

Explore correctional psychology and institutional corrections within forensic psychology to clarify their roles and implications for practice.